Comparison

Paintsight vs Value Study Assistant

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Paintsight

This app helps artists analyze and draw from reference photos. It offers tools for value studies, color analysis, composition guides, and proportional drawing grids. Users can also compare their work directly against references.

Highlights
  • Notan and value studies
  • Color palette analysis
  • Drawing grids and guides
  • Painting comparison tools
  • Reference photo organization
  • iPad-optimized interface
Features
Read full description

Paint from photos with a painter's eye. Paintsight keeps your reference photos in one place and gives you the studio tools to read them: notan and value studies, grids, color palettes, design tools, and a way to check your painting against the reference. SEE THE VALUES • Notan and value study: simplify any photo into 2 to 7 values, then tap a value to highlight it • Notan options: several ways to design the lights and darks, side by side • Thumbnail: see the design at postage-stamp size, where only the big shapes count • Squint and grayscale views, to judge light and dark without detail or color in the way • Sample: tap any spot to read its value on a 0 to 10 scale, its color and whether it reads warm or cool READ THE COLOR • Palette: the main color masses with their share of the picture, value, hex and RGB. Tap one to see everywhere it appears • Color blocks: flat color masses for the block-in • Warm and cool map, and a chroma map of where the most intense color sits • Gamut wheel: the palette on a color wheel, with its color scheme named SEE THE DESIGN • Planes: the photo as flat facets, finer where the form turns • Silhouette: check that the subject reads as a single shape • Focal point, big lines and flow: where the eye goes first, the main directions, and the direction of form for planning brushstrokes • Hard and soft edges: see how sharply shapes meet • Contours: clean lines for drawing in or transferring DRAW IT IN PROPORTION • Drawing grid with numbered and lettered squares, sized to your canvas (such as 16x20 in) so you can scale up square by square • Rule of thirds, golden section, diagonals and harmonic armature guides • Measure angles and proportions, with a plumb line • Sketch over a reference with Apple Pencil. The sketch is saved with the photo • Mirror, rotate, and crop to your canvas shape or a standard ratio CHECK YOUR PAINTING • Photograph your painting, straighten it, and compare it with the reference: overlaid, flicking between the two, or side by side • Compare in any view, such as values or color blocks, to see where the painting has drifted KEEP YOUR REFERENCES ORGANIZED • Import from the camera or your photo library, one at a time or in bulk • Tag photos, such as hands, skies, fabric or portraits, and filter in a tap • Add notes to each reference: palette ideas, mixes, what to try next time • Syncs with iCloud, so the same library is on your iPhone and iPad BUILT FOR iPAD • Library sidebar, and tool options in a side panel so the photo stays full size • Open a reference in its own window beside your painting app in Split View or Stage Manager • Drag a reference straight into Procreate, Files or another app • Keyboard shortcuts for the main tools MADE FOR PAINTERS For oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache and plein air painters, and for anyone drawing from reference. Plan a painting at the kitchen table, then prop your iPad or iPhone by the easel while you work. The screen stays awake while a reference is open. SIMPLE PRICING Try Paintsight free with up to 3 reference photos and every tool. One payment unlocks unlimited photos for life. No subscription, no account, no ads. Questions or ideas? Get in touch from Settings. Paintsight is made by an independent developer.

About

Value Study Assistant

This app simplifies photos into distinct light and dark masses, helping artists analyze composition and value structure before painting. It offers adjustable value levels, comparison tools, and cropping to standard art proportions.

Highlights
  • Simplify photos into 2-10 value levels
  • Compare original photo with simplified study
  • Adjust individual value groups
  • Crop to standard painting proportions
  • Download value studies as JPG
Features
Read full description

Value Study Assistant helps painters see the big picture before they begin painting. Upload any photo and instantly simplify it into clear value masses — from 2 to 10 levels of light and dark. Instead of getting lost in detail, you'll quickly see the essential shapes that create a strong composition. HOW IT WORKS 1) Upload your photo and choose 2–10 value levels with the slider. Two values gives you a classic notan — the fastest way to check your big shapes. 2) Use the Color / Values comparison slider to flip between your original reference and the simplified study. 3) Tap Modify Values to lighten or darken individual value groups until the structure reads right. 4) Crop your reference to any standard painting proportion — 4:5, 5:7, 11:14 and more — with pinch-to-zoom control. 5) Download your value study as a clean JPG to use beside your easel, on your tablet, or printed in the studio. Perfect for painters, illustrators, and art students who want to understand the value structure of their reference before committing to canvas. BUILT FOR PAINTERS Value Study Assistant helps you: • Quickly break down any photo into simple light and dark shapes • Check your notan with a two-value study • See the value structure of a scene before you paint • Strengthen compositions by focusing on major value relationships • Crop references to standard painting proportions • Work seamlessly on iPhone and iPad TRY EVERYTHING FREE Your first 2 photos unlock every feature — the full 2–10 value range, value fine-tuning, and cropping — plus 3 free downloads. Studio Access keeps the full toolkit forever with unlimited downloads. Try it free for 7 days. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Studio Access Yearly is an auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQRm_6cUtrAeoQAjfgxpLy2LNYUHwqU59eJ8H3RZiHehccXIHnY46iWs2pIU4GDO756I7OL605DHtYK/pub

Screenshots

Paintsight4 screens
Value Study Assistant4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Value Study Assistant at 5.0 against Paintsight's 1.0. Value Study Assistant also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Paintsight sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Value Study Assistant sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Value Study Assistant holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Paintsight ships an update every 2 weeks, Value Study Assistant every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Paintsight versus Value Study Assistant: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaintsightValue Study Assistant
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGruffydd JohnstonKristina Nelson

Customer experience

Paintsight

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Value Study Assistant

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Paintsight

One-time1
  • Lifetime$4.99
1 purchases

Value Study Assistant

Subscriptions1
  • Studio Access7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Paintsight free?
Paintsight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Value Study Assistant free?
Value Study Assistant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Paintsight or Value Study Assistant?
Value Study Assistant is rated higher. Paintsight averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Value Study Assistant averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Paintsight or Value Study Assistant have ads?
Neither Paintsight nor Value Study Assistant shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Paintsight or Value Study Assistant?
Paintsight ships an update every 2 weeks, and Value Study Assistant every 5 days. Most recently, Paintsight was updated on October 24, 2026 and Value Study Assistant on October 18, 2026.

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